It's also no coincidence that both players weigh less than
275 pounds.

As the game has evolved and offenses have become more geared
towards the pass, the preferred body type for defensive ends and edge rushers
has also changed. Instead of having bigger players who can plow people over,
teams now prefer to have long, quick, athletic players who can shoot off the
edges in passing situations.

No team knows this necessity better than the Patriots, who
were forced into their nickel defense on more than 50 percent of their defensive
snaps last season.

"Some of that is being ahead; some of that is (the) teams in
our division – Buffalo, you're pretty much in nickel all day against them.
That's two games," Belichick said. "It's a high percentage of our defense, so
that's part of the reason we feel like we need that. It's hard to be in our
base defense as much as we were in the past."

But body type is where the comparisons between Jones and Bequette
cease – at least initially.

The most optimistic projections have Jones emerging as the best pass rusher in this draft class, but he will likely need to incubate for a season before he starts to realize his potential.

Bequette arrives as more of a finished project.

Last season as a senior, he recorded 10 sacks, 10.5 tackles
for a loss and forced five fumbles serving as the captain of the Razorbacks'
defense. His 20-yard shuttle time of 4.07 seconds was the fastest among
defensive linemen at the Scouting Combine.

He projects to serve as a defensive end in the 4-3 alignment
or an outside linebacker in the 3-4, and will likely garner more playing time
than Jones, who will serve in a similar capacity, early in the season.

Bequette was more of an end in college but stood up during
workouts over the winter, including one with the Patriots in Arkansas prior to
the draft.

"Doing the outside linebacker position at the Senior Bowl
and the Combine, the more I did it, the more it grew on me. I feel very
comfortable at both and I can't wait to see what the coaches have in store for
me."

Likewise, the Patriots can't wait to see what their new
pieces on defense have in store for them.

After years of game planning against athletic playmakers on
defense, Belichick finally has a few at his disposal.